Fester Comes From the Word for a Sore
To fester is to become infected, or to grow worse through neglect. The figurative sense is the one most used today.
To fester is for a wound to become infected and inflamed. The figurative use is now more common than the literal: resentments, disputes and problems fester when left unattended, and the metaphor is precise — something that would heal if treated instead grows worse in the dark. The word comes from Latin *fistula*, an ulcer or pipe.
- To become infected. *The wound festered.*
- To grow worse through neglect. *Resentment festered.*
- Festering — worsening. *A festering dispute.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | fester | Let it fester. |
| Past | festered | The grudge festered. |
| Adjective | festering | A festering wound. |
| Related | fistula | A surgical fistula. |
| Related | suppurate | The wound suppurated. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The dispute festered for years.Figurative.
- An untreated cut can fester.Literal.
- A fistula is an abnormal passage.The medical term from the same root.
Words for worsening
- Fester — grow worse through neglect
- Suppurate — form pus, the clinical term
- Deteriorate — decline generally
- Escalate — grow in intensity
- Compound — make an existing problem worse
From Old French *festre*, from Latin *fistula*, a pipe or ulcer. English took the noun first and formed the verb from it.
Is fester only about wounds?
No. It is now used more often for problems and resentments left unaddressed.
Are fistula and fester related?
Yes. Both come from Latin *fistula*, which meant both a pipe and a kind of ulcer.